Spring hinge



Patented May 30, |899.

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2 Sheets-Sheet I.

@No Model.)

A. S. HELD.

SPRING HINGE.

(Application led Dee. S, 1898.)

(N o M o d e l Patented May 30., |899.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST S. HELD, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STOVER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPRING SPECIFICATION forng part of Letters Patent No. 625,929, dated May 30, 1899.

Application filed December 8, 1898. Serial No. 698,661. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST S. HELD, of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring-hinges, and more particularly to that class wherein the construction is such that the spring operates when the door or other part to which the hinge is attached has passed a certain point to either close or open the door and to hold the same in said closed or opened position.

The object of my invention is to provide a hinge which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, effective in operation, and readily assembled; and to these ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents an elevation of the inner face of a hinge embodying my invention in one form; Fig. 2, a similar View of the outer face thereof 5 Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4, abottom plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the hinge in a position at the limit of its motion opposite to that shown in said Fig. 4. Fig. Gis an elevation of the inner face of the hinge when in the position shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1', illustrating a modi-V fied form of my invention. Fig. 8 is adetail View illustrating the mode of attachment of the xed end of the spring shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating another modified form of my invention. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig; 6, illustrating the construction shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a detail view similar to Fig. 8, illustrating a modified .method of securing the fixed end of the spring.

In Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 the hinges are shown as mounted or attached to the parts to which they are adapted to be connected,while in the remaining figures-the hinges are shown as detached.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, 15 and 16 represent the two leaves or members of the hinge, which are of any approved construction and which are pivotally connected by means of the usual lugs and pintles at their ends in any approved manner. In the construction shown the leaf 15 is provided with projecting lugs 17, which extend outward beyond the plane of the leaves of the hinge and are provided with pintle-pins or short studs 18, ex tending toward each other, while the leaf 16 has similarlugs l9,with recesses 20,into which the studs 18 extend, one of said recesses 20 being extended to the margin of the lng, as shown at 2l, so as to permit the assembling of the parts, and the lugs 19 lying between the lugs 17. Any other approved form of hinge connection wherein the axis of the hinge lies without the plane of the leaves may be substituted for that shown and described.

The spring, which I will designate as a whole by the reference-num eral 22, comprises a coil 23 and two arms 24 and 25). The coil of the spring is located with its axis at right angles to that of the plane of the leaves and transversely to the axis of rotation or pintleline, While both ends of the spring are connected to the respective leaves on one and the same side of the transverse center of the hinge, or, in other words,- on the same side of a line drawn transversely through the hinge atright angles to the pintle-line and in the plane of Vthe leaves of the hinge when opened.

One of the ends is connected to one of the leaves and the other vend is connected to the Otherleaf. In the construction shown the `arm 24, which I may term the fixed arm,

,the outer face of the leaf, below the central line thereof, two seats or bearings 26 and 27, against which the arm 24 of the spring bears in one direction, while on the inner face of vthe. leaf there is provided athird seat or bearing 28, lying between the bearings 26 and 27, the arm 24 bearing on this seat in the oppo- IOO site direction and said seat being on the opposite side of the arm to that on which the seats 26 and 27 are located. Moreover, the fixed arm 24 of the spring, when this latter is in place in the assembled hinge, bears at its outer end in an outward direction against the seat 27, or in a direction away from the other or free arm and away from the axis of the hinge, while said iixed arm 24 bears against the bearing 2S in an inward direction or toward the free arm 25 and the axis of the hinge, so that the said fixed arm is cramped or bound between said bearings, and thereby held. The other arm of the spring, which I will term the movable7 arm 25, for the reason that its free end moves in the arc of a circle, is connected to the leaf 1G in any suitabie manner, preferably by the insertion of the end of the arm in a notch 29, formed in the edge of the lug 19. It is essential that the connection of this end of the spring shall be eccentric to the pintle-line or axis of hinging, and it will be noted that said arm 25 is parallel with the axis of the hinge or pintleline when in its normal position, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It is further essential for the purpose of my invention that the point of connection of the free end of the spring-to wit, the end of the free arm 25-shall always lie outward beyond a plane drawn parallel with the plane of the leaf 15 through the point of connection of the ixed arm and shall not pass inward beyond said plane when at its extreme limit of motion in that direction, which lilnit is reached when the hinge is in the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. By reason of this construction the coil is prevented from tilting or rotating toward the plane of the hingeleaves, and thereby projecting in ward beyond said plane and coming into contact with the woodwork, to which the hinge is attached. This construction also prevents the end of the free arm 25 from being sprungout of place at its point of connection with the leaf 1G, where said connection is made, as in the construction shown, by inserting the end of said arm in a notch as contradistinguished from an aperture. Ileretofore in hinges of this character a post, arbor, or studhas been employed to hold the coil in position and preventitfromtiltingandbeingdisconnected, or the coil has been inclosed in an exterior casing or held in position by exterior bearings or supports; but by reason of the construction and arrangement of parts which I have devised these posts are dispensed with and the hinge rendered simplen'cheaper, and lighter.

The arrangement just described provides against the tilting or turning of the coil of the spring; but provision is also necessary to prevent longitudinal motion of the spring, whereby its ends might be withdrawn from their seats. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 this longitudinal motion is prevented by reason of the fixed arm 231. lying at a divergent angle from the arm 25, so that owing to this angular relation of the arms a wedging action exists which prevents the spring from so moving as to permit the ends of the arms from slipping out of their seais.

The general operation of the hinge is the same as is usual in hinges of this type, the spring being gradually coiled tighter in the movement of the hinge until the dead-point is reached, after which the spring gradually uncoils, so that the spring oifers resistance to any motion of the door which tends to move it out of either its closed or open positions up to a certain point, whereupon it acts to continue the motion imparted to it and reverses the position of the door.

The leaf to which the fixed arm ofthe sprin g is attached is provided with an approximatelycylindrical hollow hood 30, which covers and protects the spring. In the construction shown in Figs 1 to 6 when such a hood is employed the bearing 26 may be dispensed with and the coil of the spring may bear upon the hood, and thereby accomplish the same result in preventing displacement of the spring as is accomplished by said bearing 2G.

-The particular mode of attachment of the fixed arm of the spring may be varied from that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 without departing from the principle of my invention, providing the relative position of the points of attachment of the ends of the xed and movable arms is maintained. For instance, in Figs. 7 and S of the drawings I have shown a construction in which the fixed ar 24 passes at a point near the coil through a sleeve-bearing 31, the arm 24 extending substantially parallel to the arm 25 and to the axis of the hinge and having its extremity bent at approximately a right angle, as indicated at 32, and extended through or into a suitable aperture in the hood 30 to prevent longitudinal motion of the spring. This construction will be readily understood from an examination of Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

In Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings I have shown the arm24 as again parallel to the arm 25 and to the axis of the hinge and as passing over a stud 31 and under a similar stud In this construction in order to prevent longitudinal motion of the spring in the direction of the axis of the hinge I provide upon the hood A30 a projection or flange 34 in proximity to the coil of the spring when this latter is swung down into place and against which it 'will abut when any tendency to move longitudinally occurs. It will be understood, of course, that in assembling the structure shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the arm 24- is engaged with the lugs 31 and 33, while the coil 23 is at right angles to the position shown in the drawings, the coil being then turned down in line with the projection 34. A still further modification is indicated in Fig. 11 of the drawings, wherein longitudinal movement of the spring is prevented by providing the lug with a V-shaped projection 35, which en- IOC IIO

ters a correspondingly-shaped notch 36 in the arm 24- near its end.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe precise details of` construction set forth, as they may obviously be varied without departing from the principle of my invention.

I claiml. In a spring-hinge of the double-acting type described, the combination, with two hinge-leaves havinga pivotal connection outside of their plane, of a spring lyingl on the same side of said plane as said connection and comprising a free coil without internal or external supporting devices and having its axis at right angles to the plane of the hingeleaves, a fixed arm secured to one of the leaves, and a movable arm connected to the other leaf eccentrically to the axis of the hinge, said connection lying outward beyond the plane of connection of the fixed arm in all positions of the hinge, the relative location of the axis of the hinge and of the points of connection of the arms of the spring being such that the spring operates to either close or open the door or other part to which the l hinge is connected when past the dead-point in either direction, substantially as described.

2. In a spring-hinge of the double-acting type described, the combination, with two hinge-leaves having a pivotal connection outside of their plane, of a removable spring lying on the same side of said plane as said connection and comprising a free coil without internal or external supporting devices and having its axis at right angles to the plane of the hinge-leaves, a fixed varm removably secured to one of the leaves, and a movable arm connected to the other leaf eccentrically to the axis of the hinge, said connection lying outward beyond the plane of connection of the fixed arm in all positions of the hinge,and means for preventing movement of the spring longitudinally of the hinge, the relative location of the axis of the hinge and of the points ofY connection of the arms of the spring being such that the spring operates to either close or open the door or other part to which the hinge is connected when past the dead-point in either direction, substantially as described.

3. In a spring-hinge, the combination,with two hinge-leaves having a pivotal connection outside of their plane, of a spring comprising a free coil without internal or external supporting devices and having its axis at right angles to the plane of the hinge-leaves, a fixed arm, the end whereof extends between suitable seats or bearings on one of the leaves, and a movable arm connected to the other leaf eccentrically to the axis of the hinge, said connection lying outward beyond the plane of connection of the ixed arm in all positions of the hinge, and said fixed and movable arms being arranged at a divergent angle, whereby longitudinal movement of the spring relatively to the hinge is prevented,substantially as described.

fl. In a spring-hinge, the combination,with two hinge-leaves having a pivotal connection outside of their plane, of aspring comprising a free coil without internal or external supporting devices and having its axis at right angles to the plane of the hinge-leaves, 'said spring having a ixed arm and a movable arm both connected to the hinge-leaves on the same side of the transverse center, the fixed arm being connected to one of the leaves and having two bearings adjacent to its end against the outer one of which it bears outwardly and against the inner one of which it bears inwardly, and the movable arm being connected to the other leaf eccentrically to the axis of the hinge, substantially as described.

AUGUST S. HELD. Witnesses:

W. A. MERRIFIELD, W. H. J. S'rRATToN. 

